What I'm Reading NOVEMBER 2013

[Joan]

Having seen the film, but never having read the book, I'm now reading and very much enjoying The Painted Veil. The writing is crisp and interesting. Maughm has been neglected of late.

[Ruth]

Joan wrote: "Having seen the film, but never having read the book, I'm now reading and very much enjoying The Painted Veil. The writing is crisp and interesting. Maughm has been neglected of late."

Here's my review:
I read this as an audiobook, right after The Abstinence Teacher and Special Topics in Calamity Physics, both of which were so poorly written I couldn't finish them. Coming into Somerset Maughm's lucid prose was like being let out of a cage.

[Joan]

Exactly. So well put.

[Book Concierge]

Finished The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce – 4**** (Audiobook performed by Jim Broadbent)
When recently retired Harold Fry learns that a former work colleague is dying of cancer, he makes a snap decision to walk the length of England to be by her side. So, without his phone or proper shoes, with nothing more than the clothes on his back, he sets out on foot. As unlikely as this pilgrimage is, the insights Harold gains from hours alone with his thoughts are life-changing. There is something about Harold that will appeal to a wide range of readers. I grew to love him and my heart broke for him as I learned how he had lost his way. Jim Broadbent does a marvelous job of narrating the audio version. He had good pacing and his inflections brought out the wry humor in certain passages.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jane]

Just my opinion, but I'd consider Grafton potboilers.
Whereas, the other two authors--I'd almost consider them classics in the mystery genre.

[Jennifer]

I just read a new-to-me mystery author, G . M. Ford --Thicker Than Water which I raced through in about a day and a half. Definitely read more of this series.

[Ruth]

Just finished Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rivka Brunt. Once I got into this book, I couldn’t put it down. A true life-interrupter, I finished it about 26 hours after I started it. A complicated story about complicated characters. The musings of the 13-year-old protagonist seem a little sophisticated for a girl of that age. The writing is serviceable and graceful, but not elegant, it’s probably hard to be elegant when writing in the first person about a 13-year-old. The story, however, is well told and believable, up until the last major incident. The author is tackling some tough and major issues about love and loyalty, purpose and understanding.

[John]

I read The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop long before I discovered this group, but ran across it in my "books read" library recently, so thought I'd make a general recommendation here - it's as though he wrote it with Constant Readers specifically in mind!

[Robert]

Reading Walter Mirisch's memoirs of Hollywood, I Thought We Were Making Movies and the second of the Rex Stout Nero Wolfe mysteries. Had to get a large print edition. I feel like I'm either back in kindergarten or in retirement...

[Book Concierge]

Finished reading Ingenious Pain by Andrew Miller – 2**
What an odd book. There is some glorious writing within the text but I felt disconnected from the central character and the events. Still, I was intrigued and interested in the story from the outset, but the author lost me in the last eighty pages. To paraphrase one of my husband’s favorite expressions: I can define every word used but have no idea what I just read.
Book Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Karlyne]

Robert wrote: "Reading Walter Mirisch's memoirs of Hollywood, I Thought We Were Making Movies and the second of the Rex Stout Nero Wolfe mysteries. Had to get a large print edition. I feel like I'm either back in..."

I wouldn't mind the large-print books so much if they weren't so heavy!

[Sherry, Doyenne]

Book Concierge wrote: "Finished reading Ingenious Pain by Andrew Miller – 2**
What an odd book. There is some glorious writing within the text but I felt disconnected from the centr..."

I read this years ago and had the same reaction as you did. I don't remember a thing about it, though.

[Sue]

John wrote: "I read The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop long before I discovered this group, but ran across it in my "books read" library recently, so thought I'd make a general recommendation here - it's..."

Thanks for reminding me of this John. I know it's been on my list for a while.

[John]

We all have massive TBR piles here, Sue. This is one I can't picture anyone here being at all disappointed in, so thought I'd throw out a (pretty much, never-say-never) guaranteed winner if anyone has trouble with what to read next.

[Sue]

John wrote: "We all have massive TBR piles here, Sue. This is one I can't picture anyone here being at all disappointed in, so thought I'd throw out a (pretty much, never-say-never) guaranteed winner if anyone ..."

I've scheduled it for early next year.

[Lyn]

Just finished The Language of Flowers. It was a page turner at first and fairly enjoyable after that, but I suppose that I didn't find it terribly realistic that the main character would be loved so fiercely and loyally through her pushing it away in big ways over and over, as I don't think people necessarily get loved back in this world even when they do their best to welcome it. But I did like the focus on the messages that each kind of flower sends, as that seemed quite original for a novel.

[Larry]

Almost finished with Jane Leavy's Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy. The book is about Sandy Koufax as one of the game's best pitchers. But to some degree, it is also about America in the 1950s and early 1960s, where discrimination against blacks and Jews was still overt and an everyday matter for those people. Koufax treated everyone with respect and accordingly is loved today by those who knew him personally and admired greatly by baseball fans.

It clearly was a different time, when great athletes were sometimes just ordinary people. When Koufax was pitching in the World Series and the Dodgers won it in 1955, he quickly changed after the game in the dressing room and took off for Columbia University where he was enrolled as an undergraduate. He politely asked the professor if he could leave the class a bit early to get back to the Dodgers' post-game celebration.

Robert Pinsky, the poet, makes more than one appearance ... one with a reference to his great poem, THE NIGHT GAME, which compares Whitey Ford with Sandy Koufax.

[Barbara]

Sara wrote: "Joan wrote: "Absolutely. Seems to happen to most. To wit: Robert Parker's Spenser series. The Maisie Dobbs series."

I'm still reading Maisie, and I expect to follow it all the way. I know a lot o..."

Sometimes I think I'm too critical but I still love Maisie Dobbs and the Sue Grafton series so maybe I'm not. Both characters keep me there even when the plot is questionable or thin. And, I love Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski series. Didn't know there was a new one coming out.

I usually do my mysteries in audiobook productions and am currently listening to A Fatal Grace,
the second one in Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series. I wanted to thank you Sara, and others, for talking about them here. I absolutely love the wit and the characters.

On the other hand, I just took The Keeper of Lost Causes, a Danish mystery back to the library after 3 discs. I didn't like the writing, the plot or the characters so I bailed which is unusual for me.

[Ann D]

I liked the first few Maisie Dobbs, but I have been disappointed of late. For me, Maisie needs to move on in some way or Winspear needs a different character.

Barb, I read and enjoyed The Keeper of Lost Causes, but I am no good at listening to audiobooks, especially mysteries. I lose track of what's going on. If I had a long commute, I'm sure I could learn to pay better attention.

Right now I am reading THE FIRE WITNESS, another Scandinavian mystery by Lars Kepler. Kepler is actually the pen name of a Swedish couple who write mysteries together. They had solo careers writing literary fiction.

I like the Scandinavians, but they do seem to have a lot more gore in their mysteries than I am used to. On the other hand, they are very good at plot and pacing.

I just finished The Aviator's Wife, historical fiction about Anne Morrow Lindbergh. This was for my in-person book club. I have mixed feelings about this one. The story was interesting due to the dramatic lives of the Lindberghs, but, as a history buff, first person narratives about real people bother me. They seem voyeuristic and unfair. I prefer biography,

[Sara]

Barbara wrote: "Sara wrote: "Joan wrote: "Absolutely. Seems to happen to most. To wit: Robert Parker's Spenser series. The Maisie Dobbs series."

I'm still reading Maisie, and I expect to follow it all the way. I..."

Barb, I'm so glad to hear you're enjoying Louise Penny--I've listened to each one on audio, and am all caught up. The most recent one came out in August, I think. I just love the depictions of adult friendships!

[Sue]

When I come up for reading air, I'll start the Louise Penny series. I used to like the earlier Kathy Reichs books but they have become very formulaic with much less interesting plot background. I'm finished with her now I guess. I'm trying more Scandinavian and have liked Arnaldur Indriðason, especiallySilence of the Grave

[Jennifer]

Funny, I'm in my first Louise Penny too!

[Sherry, Doyenne]

Jennifer wrote: "Funny, I'm in my first Louise Penny too!"

I just put her on my audible wish list.

[Cateline]

I've read all but the last Louise Penny, it's on the shelf here though. I was a bit disappointed in the last one. There is a certain conflict that has come up in the last two (excluding this last one) that, for me at least, has been run into the ground. So much so, I'm reluctant to read the newest. Aside from that glitch, I've loved the series.

[Sara]

Cateline wrote: "I've read all but the last Louise Penny, it's on the shelf here though. I was a bit disappointed in the last one. There is a certain conflict that has come up in the last two (excluding this last..."

I'm pretty sure I understand what you mean, Cateline. There is what I found to be a satisfying step forward in the latest volume.

[Mary Anne]

I've got 3 books going at once: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Orphan Master's Son, and The End of Your Life Book Club. It's a reading frenzy!

[Ann D]

I really liked the film "The Perks of Being a Wildflower," Mary Anne. Let us know how you like the book. The other two are on my TBR list.

[Cecilia]

Cateline wrote: "Larry wrote: "I've been thinking several days about fantasy and how little I've actually liked within that category. While this list isn't exhaustive, it probably captures most of my favorites: Rob..."

I agree that the latest Maisie Dobbs books are not quite up to the previous ones; I got the feeling from "Leaving" that this might be the last in the series; it seemed like a "winding up" kind of thing. As for Laurie King, I'll probably keep reading the series, but once we got into long lost sons, pirates, and things like that, it didn't seem so unique or interesting. Sue Grafton: still compelling plots, although I'm getting tired of Kinsey's little black dress and the unsavory cuisine at Rosie's.

[Cateline]

Sara wrote: "I'm pretty sure I understand what you mean, Cateline. There is what I found to be a satisfying step forward in the latest volume.
..."

I'm really glad to hear that! Thanks. :)

I'm about 2/3rds of the way through Dirty Love by Andre Dubus III. Extraordinary.

[Ruth]

I've just started Let Him Go: A Novel by Larry Watson. Nice writing.

[Lynn]

Remember when Watson joined us for a picnic at the Milwaukee convention, Ruth?

[Ruth]

Lynn wrote: "Remember when Watson joined us for a picnic at the Milwaukee convention, Ruth?"

Yes! That was fun. Even if it was a very strange time.

[Book Concierge]

John wrote: "I read The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop long before I discovered this group, but ran across it in my "books read" library recently, so thought I'd make a general recommendation here - it's..."

Another book on my massive TBR pile that I really need to move up in priority. Thanks for the reminder!

[Book Concierge]

Lyn wrote: "Just finished The Language of Flowers. It was a page turner at first and fairly enjoyable after that, but I suppose that I didn't find it terribly realistic that the main character..."

My F2F book club is discussing it this week. I read it a year ago but remember that for some time after I finished it I couldn't help but wonder about the meanings behind the flowers I chose for any arrangement.

[Peggy]

All the love for Roger Zelazny is making me a happy panda -- he is one of my favorite writers. Nine Princes in Amber was one of the first fantasy novels I ever read, and played a big part in my love of the genre. I do agree the series doesn't hold up; I usually recommend people read the first five, then pretend the second five don't exist. Kind of like that last Indiana Jones movie.

Zelazny's short stories are nothing but gorgeous -- he doesn't mess around with info dumps, just drops the reader in and expects him or her to enjoy the ride. And for a light, fun read, I just adore A Night in the Lonesome October. What an imagination that man had!

What I've been reading - I finally got my hands on a copy of Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane, and thought it was wonderful. What a story teller he is! And I appreciate the length - it wasn't fluffed up with extra words and description. Gaiman got in, he told his story, then he got out again.

I also read Zoo City, by Lauren Beukes, an urban fantasy set in South Africa. It's very inventive and, like Zelanzy, she doesn't spend time explaining what's going on. She just trusts the reader to get it. The end doesn't quite hold up - I don't think it had the necessary foreshadowing, but I liked the characters and the setting a lot, and would love to revisit that world.

[Jennifer]

Finished an oldie but a goodie today: And Be a Villain . Also read a meh short story by an author I usually like -- Recalculating. The male character in that story needed to be snapped in half like a glow stick. Just sayin.

[Barbara]

I liked The Ocean at the End of the Lane too, Peggy. I listened to an audiobook production of it read by Gaiman which increased the enjoyment. I think I've fallen in love with that man's voice!

[Kat]

I'm loving A Legacy, by Sybille Bedford, which I've mentioned before. (My reading of it got put off due to a schedule change in my f2f book group.) I enjoy novels that make me work a bit to understand what the characters are talking about, and A LEGACY does that for me. Elizabeth Bowen and Henry James also do this. Although Bedford is not much like those authors in other respects. For one thing she's very funny. The novel is a kind of family history set in various parts of Europe beginning in the last third of the 19th century, and I find it's giving me an interesting slant on certain historical moments--always, always, through the lens of the personal lives of the characters.

[Larry]

I started Jim Kristofic's Navajos Wear Nikes: A Reservation Life. Kristofic moved to the Navajo Reservation when he was in second grade after his mother started working at a hospital on the reservation. The book is about his adjustments to living on the reservation and then reentering the Anglo world.

[Ann D]

I've started The Orphan Master's Son. Very good so far.

[John]

Larry wrote: "I started Jim Kristofic's Navajos Wear Nikes: A Reservation Life. Kristofic moved to the Navajo Reservation when he was in second grade after his mother started working at a hospital..."

I've seen that title around, Larry -- looking forward to your comments later.

[Karlyne]

I started The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls this morning, and now I'm remembering what a way she has with young characters.

[Cateline]

I just finished Dirty Love by Andre Dubus III. Exceptional writing. Stories that will haunt the reader long afterwards. Review here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lyn]

I just put Dirty Love on hold at the library.

Just finished Others of My Kind: A Novel, and I'm going a little crazy trying to figure out why it kind of bored me and I felt detached, though I look at the story and it's relatively interesting plotwise. The author just didn't make any connection with me. May get in trouble here, but I am wondering if part of it is that is is a male author writing about internal events through harrowing life experience of a female main character (and for me, it doesn't work). Sallis seems to be acclaimed, but somehow it seemed like, "Just the facts, Ma'am" style to me.

[Cateline]

Lyn, I hope you like the Dubus.

I don't know why I had not posted my review of the Sallis, I had it elsewhere, so just put it up here. I really enjoyed it. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I wonder if the detached vibe you get is more the terrible thing the protag went through, and the subsequent detaching of herself is what you're experiencing. Her inability to connect with others was certainly a huge part of her character.

[Sara]

Lyn wrote: "I just put Dirty Love on hold at the library.

Just finished Others of My Kind: A Novel, and I'm going a little crazy trying to figure out why it kind of bored me a..."

I read it recently, too, and I just think it was simply not fully told. Very odd book.

[Cateline]

I've started another novel by Andre Dubus III....House of Sand and Fog.

[Ruth]

Cateline wrote: "I've started another novel by Andre Dubus III....House of Sand and Fog."

Here's a link to our discussion back in 2000. http://constantreader.com/discussions...

It was a good discussion .

[Cateline]

Thanks, Ruth. I'll look it up after finishing. :)

[Karlyne]

I'm giving Jeannette Walls' The Silver Star 4.5 stars. The heroine is consistently herself, and I not only believed in her, but I believed her whole story.